Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food service but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michael Eckles, founder of Abode Fine Dining, located in Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We bring the fine dining restaurant into residential homes. We service all of southeast Michigan and will go wherever the wind takes us if it’s worthwhile. Our goal is to keep our service but, most importantly, our cuisine on par with Michelin star restaurants. The only difference is you don’t have to leave your dining room!
Tell us about yourself
I have wanted to cook ever since I was a little kid. My mother was battling breast cancer, and during all the treatment, she stopped cooking.
So as a kid, I started cooking simply because I wanted to eat good food.
After attending the culinary institute of America in New York, I always had fine dining on my mind. To be the best and make Michigan a foodie destination is what keeps me going every day.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Abode's biggest accomplishment is starting business during a worldwide pandemic and still growing rapidly. Not even world chaos can keep people from wanting to taste my food.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner is wearing different hats. I was only a chef before I started Abode, so I didn’t have to use computers much or talk to clients, so it was a big learning curve at the beginning.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do something that you're passionate about.
- Be prepared to make social and financial sacrifices for your business.
- Don’t give up… put in the work, and failure is slim.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://abodefinedining.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abodefinediningg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abodefinedining/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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